Apparatus for developing and fixing photosensitive elements



May l15, 1934.

G. c. KALBFLElscl-l `F1' AL APPARATUS POR DEVELOPING AND FIXING PHOTOSENSITIVE ELEMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 :menteur dwp May 15, 1934- G. c. KALBFLElscH Er AL 1,958,791

APPARATS FOR DEVELOPING AND FIXING PHOTOSENSITIVE ELEMENTS Fileduarcn s1, 1952 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented May 15, 1934 APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING AND Fl'XmG PHOTOSENSITIVE ELEMENTS George C. Kalbleisch and Andrew P. Keller, Tiiiin, Ohio Application March 31,

7 Claims.

This invention relates to maintaining temperature in a chamber.

This invention has utility when incorporated in developing and fixing lms or plates, especially in photographic operations.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, with parts broken away of an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of features of the piping and portions of the structure;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the waste piping;V

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation with parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line V-V, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line VI-VI, Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line VII- VIL Fig. 4, and

Fig. 8 is a Wiring diagram of the electric features of control.

Frame 1 has vibration take-up bracket 2 for deck 3 (Fig. 6) carrying electric motor 4 for operating refrigeration unit including compressor or pump 5 for a cooling medium circuit having delivery duct 6 and return duct 7.

The frame 1 above the refrigerator unit is provided With cabinet section 8 enclosing heat insulation 9 as a jacket for tank 10. This heat insulation 9 is desirably of a character not to sour or sweat. Rock wool base insulation has been found satisfactory; The chamber 10 in its'extent has downwardly therein short of its bottom, interl mediate partition Walls 11, 12, having insulation jacket filler 13 (Fig. 2) which is desirably of insulation similar to the insulation 9. This insulation 13 houses Vessel 14 as an intermediate overow chamber extending with its jacket short of the bottom of the chamber 10 to leave passage 15 (Fig. 6) between developing chamber 16 and fixing chamber 1'7 of this photographic accessory tank cabinet.

Line 6 from the refrigerator unit extends upwardly through the jacket about the tank 10 into the bottom of fixing chamber 17 where it is connected to duct 18 (Fig. 2) having branch 19 to the upper part of coil 20 about the inner side of this chamber 17 near the top. Brackets 21 anchor the wraps of this coil 20 with the side walls 10, 12,

of this chamber 17.** This coil 20 descending 'from the upper portion of the chamber 17 has duct 22 through the crossover portion 15 to duct 23 -in communication through the bottom of the chamber 16 with return duct 7 to the refrigerator unit.

The duct 18, besides the branch 19, has branch 24 extending through the crossover portion 15 between the chambers 16, 17, thence upward to the 1932, Serial No. 802,216

top portion of coil 25 about developing chamber 16 similar to the coil 20. It is desired to main tain the chambers 16, 17 at approximately the same temperature and of approximately the same capacity. However, as the riser 6 enters the chamber 17, it has been found in an instance of practice that two more wraps for the coil 25 than the coil 20 effectively balances the chilling for the two chambers. This coil 25 is anchored to the walls 10, 11, by brackets 21 similar to the brackets 21. From this upper portion of the chamber 16 the downward wraps of this cooling coil 25 have duct 26 therefrom to the branch fitting 23. The developing chamber 16 and the xing chamber 17 are thus in parallel in their connection to the cooling unit.

The Wall 11 is provided with openings 27 to pocket 28 (Figs. 2, 7) extending downward along the Wall 11 and thus in communication with the chamber 16 but spaced slightly outward from the coil 25. In the pocket 28 is thrust stem 29 of thermometer 30 (Fig. 1) thereby serving as a visual indicator for the condition of water 3l in the chambers 16, 17, having the intercommunieating portion 15.

In practice a constant temperature is one insuring uniformity for the output in developing and fixing operations. With certain photographic sensitive coatings desirable results are obtained today by holding the developing and xing temperature at F.

. The rear of the chamber 16 has removable section 32 through which connections may be made for locating a dat tube 33 (Figs. 2, 7) in the chamber 16 against the coils 20. This tube 33 contains a temperature responsive expansible medium. The section 32 seals connection at the chamber 16 for the tube 33 against leakage of water 31. The cabinet has this portion closed in by removable plate 34. From this tube 33 there extends flexible duct 35 to electric switch 36 (Fig. 1). Upon the expansion of this medium in the tube 331m any state above a set temperature for the switch 360i say 650V F., the switch 36 will close. The electric power connection by plug at electric fitting 37 (Fig. 5), below the cabinet and at the end thereof remote from the unit, may serve for a power supply. The wiring from this fitting 37 may be to outlet box 38 to fuse 39 thence by conduit 40 to the switch 36 with conduit 41 therefrom to the motor 4. When the temperature in the tank 10 falls below the' point for temperature maintenance, say 65 F.. the switch 36 automatically opens and the refrigerator unit 5 is stopped. Reversal o1' flow is precluded by check valve 42 in this line 6 at insulation packed chamber 43 below the chamber 17.

The rear of the cabinet may be provided with hose connection 44 (Fig. 4) for a water supply to pipes/15, 46. 'I'he pipe 46 extends to valve 47 which as opened, allows flowof water from pipe 48 into the chamber 17 below the coil 20 where it is downwardly directed by fitting 49. Due to the connection 15, lthe 'charging of the chamber 17 automatically fills or charges the chamber 16 to a similar extent. Y

The chambers 16, 17, have in the upper portions thereof ledges 50 upon which may rest outwardly extending flanges 51 (Fig. 1) of tanks 52 of chemically resistant material, say rubber, which may be used for the developing solution in tank 16 and for the fixing solution in the tank 17. These tanks 52 in the chambers 16, 17, extend into the water 31 and have such water serve as a. temperature controlled liquid jacket about the tanks proper 52 containing the chemical for developing as to the tank 16 and for xing as to the tank 17. This facilitates the handling of this work. If the sensitive coated material be in strip lm form, it may be hung over bars or racks. v

If the material be on glass plates or lm sectionssuch may be inserted in perforate 'channel Uframe 53 and then locked by perforate channel bar 54 locked into holding position. The frame has cross bar 55 rest on shoulder 56 near the top of the rubber tank 52 for suspending the sensitive lcoated base of glass or iilm in the chemical soluion.

In the lower portion of the tank 17 is waste out- Alet 56 (Fig. 3) having screw'thread riser sleeve 57 into which may be inserted'plug 58., For normal draining of this tank 10, removal of the plug 58 leaves a depth of water to submerge metal jacket 59 for electric heater unit 60.' Beneaththe coil 20 in the-chamber 17 there is located a temperature responsive tubel (Fig. 5) similar to the tube 33 and similarly mounted. However, the purpose thereof is opposite to that 0f the tube 33, for this tube 61 is connected up for raising the temperaure of the bath instead of lowering. To this end flexible duct 62 from the tube 61 extends to switch 63, similar to the switch 36. k

From the electric current supply past fuse 64 from the outlet box 39 there is conduit 65 to the switch 63 having conduit 66 extending therefrom' electric current for the resistance in warming the jacket or the' shell 69. The heat thus generated has thermosiphon action for creating upward circulation from the cross-over 15 in parallel for Lthe chambers 16, 17, to bring the temperature thereof up to the point at which it is desired lto have it maintained, as 65 F. When such point is reached, the switch 63 automatically cuts out the heater 60. 'Ihe refrigerator unit 5 and the heater unit 59 thus cooperate -for maintaining a temperature constant in the water jacket tanks or chambers 16, 17, about the chemical 'carrying tanks 52.

If it be desired to drain fully the tank 10 it is necessary to remove the sleeve 57. The waste flows from this outlet 56 (Fig. 3) by way of duct 67 to trap 68 having outlet 69 therefrom in the rear of the cabinetfor, say a sewer connection.

It is desirable in the maintenance of constant temperature for operation of the chemical baths, especially when not workingtherein, that there be closure to hold the temperature against radiation departure by dissipation from or into the surrounding atmosphere. To this end insulation blocks 70 (Fig. 1) may be used at closures for openings 71 at the tops of the tank portions 16, 80 17, thereby closing the chamber secti'ons as well as the tanks 52.

This leaves intermediate overflow chamber 14 in which is located rinsing chamber provided with ledge 73 near its upper portion upon which the 85 termini of the bars 55 may rest in suspending the chemically treated lm or plate for rinsing action in this tank 72. This rinsing may be eective by circulation of water. The pipe 45 extends to valve 74 which, as opened, allows water to ow 90 by pipe 75 to pipe 76 along the bottom of the tank 72 (Fig. 6). This pipe 76 has, downwardly directed along opposite sides thereof, jet openings 77 thereby distributing the incoming water, which as rising may overow through annular series of 95 openings 78 into jacket chamber 79 between-the chambers 14, 72. This communicates with down pipe 80 as a branch to waste 67.

The circulation in this rinsing chamber is positive due to the external water supply. The hold- 100 ing of temperature herein is not maintained. l As to the fixing and developing baths a temperature constant is maintained and the circulation may be due entirely to the thermo-Siphon action. However, such latter circulation may' be supple- 105 mented herein by a positive ow promotion. To this end Vmotor bracket 81 (Fig. 6) mayA be mounted upon the platform 3 tol carry motor 82 directly connected to rotary pump 83. Switch 84 (Fig. 5) near the fitting 37 may be thrown so 110 that electric current through conduit 85 to the motor 82 may operate pump 83 which has water supply connection from the tank 17 by riser duct 86 (Fig. 1) lfrom near the bottom of the tank upward through the insulation 9 and outward by 115 fitting 87 and duct 88. Duct' 89 from the pump extends to fitting 90 adjacent to fitting 87 for spilling directly into upper portion of the tank 7.

In lthe event it be desired to spill into the tank A16 or to have circulation in an intermediate or 120 other vessel, a break in the delivery hose 89 or a connection for such purpose may be made.

The cabinet is a unit which may be assembled in a housing equipped with enamel panels 91 and provided with feet 92. It is compactand automatic in its operation thereby simplifying the photographers work in producing a uniform high quality of output even for positives as well as negatives.

By pulling plug 93, the rinsing tank 72 may be 130.

drained. 'Ihe'tanks 52 have chemicalsolutions 94, 95, therein.

Any overflow from the tanks 16, 17, isrby duct 96 into the jacket chamber 79.

What is claimed and itis desired to secure by Letters Patent is: l

1. A photographic accessory comprising amultipleintercommunicating chamber bath cabinet,

, different cooling coilsfor the respective chambers,

insulation walls between the chambers, and auto- @matic temperature control cut-in meansfor rendering the coils effective.

2. A photographic accessory comprising a multiple intercommunicating chamber bath cabinet, cooling coils for the respective chamber upper portions in parallel, insulation walls between the chambers and a heater for the chamber lower portions in parallel.

3. A photographic accessory comprising a multiple intercommunicating chamber bath cabinet. '150 rinsing tank, and downwardly directed distributedlow circulation-effecting means therefor.

6. A kphotographic bath cabinet comprising a rinsing tank, a downwardly directed jet along the bottom within Said tank for water supply, an

annular series of outlet ports near the top of andy from said tank for overflow, and a common passage from said ports for receiving the overflow.

7. A photographic bath cabinet having a plurality of chambers and a common overow recelver in the cabinetfor said chambers.

GEORGE C. KALBFLEISCH. ANDREW P. KELLER. 

